Ferrybridge power stations#Construction and commissioning

File:Engineer 1927 10 28 Ferrybridge A main building and switchgear house.jpg

Land at Ferrybridge was purchased by the Yorkshire Electric Power Company in 1917. Plans for a power station were prepared and submitted to the Board of Trade in March 1918. Because of a system change the following year with the Electricity (Supply) Act 1919, the plans were put on hold. The plans were resubmitted to the Electricity Commissioners in January 1920. The plans were finally granted permission in November 1921, but delayed by a supply area reshuffle.{{cite web|first=Charles|last=Wilson|title=ELECTRICITY (SUPPLY) BILL.|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1926/mar/29/electricity-supply-bill#S5CV0193P0_19260329_HOC_361|work=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|date=29 March 1926

}} A {{convert|135|acre|abbr=on}} site was chosen with good access to coal, water, and good transport links including water transport.The Engineer, 28 October 1927, p.489, col.2

Construction of Ferrybridge A power station began in 1926 and the station began operating in 1927. The initial station covered {{convert|32|acre|abbr=on}} of the site. The main buildings contained the boilers, turbines, and offices and workshops, and a smaller building housed the electrical switchgear.The Engineer, 28 October 1927, p.489, col.3 & Fig.3 Transport facilities included sidings connected to the Dearne Valley line with equipment for handling wagons up to 20 t, and a river wharf for transport by barge. Wagon unloading was by a side tipper, into an automated weigher and then conveyors, and barge unloading was by a crane into the weighing machine.The Engineer, 4 November 1927, p.503, col.3, Fig. 6 The cooling water intakes were {{convert|550|ft|abbr=on}} upstream of the wharves, initially with two filtered intakes with a minimum capacity (low water) of {{convert|3000000|impgal|m3|abbr=on}} of water per hour.The Engineer, 28 October 1927, p.489, col.3; p.490, col.1

The power generating equipment included eight {{convert|75000|lb|abbr=on}} per hour water boiling capacity water tube boilers arranged in pairs, sharing air draught and chimneys ({{convert|166|ft|abbr=on}} height). The boilers were designed to produce superheated steam at {{convert|315|psi|atm|abbr=on}} at {{convert|700|F|abbr=on}}The Engineer, 4 November 1927, p.504, cols. 2,3 The turbine/generator section had two 3,000 rpm three stage reaction turbines driving alternators rated at 19 MW continuous.The Engineer, 4 November 1927, p.504, col.3 The alternators produced 50 Hz 3 phase AC at 11 kV, which was stepped up to 33 kV by two sets of three single phase transformers rated at 25 MW per set.The Engineer, 11 November 1927, p.532, col. 1The Engineer, 4 November 1927, p.504, Fig. 8

File:Ferrybridge Engineering Workshops - geograph.org.uk - 299784.jpg (2006)]]

The station passed into the ownership of the British Electricity Authority on the nationalisation of the UK's power industry, with the Electricity Act 1947. This company in turn became the Central Electricity Authority in 1954. The annual electricity output of the A station was:GEGB Annual report and accounts, various yearsElectricity Commission, Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31st December 1946. London: HMSO, 1947.

The station closed on 25 October 1976, at which point it had a generating capacity of 125 MW.{{cite web|author=Mr. Redmond

|title=Coal-fired Power Stations|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1984/jan/16/coal-fired-power-stations#S6CV0052P0_19840116_CWA_281

|work=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|date=16 January 1984}}

Ferrybridge A's boiler room and turbine hall still stand today. The buildings are now used as offices and workshops, by the RWE npower Technical Support Group, who are responsible for the maintenance and repairs of power station plant from around the country.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

Ferrybridge B Power Station was constructed in the 1950s. It generated electricity using three 100 megawatt (MW) generating sets, which were commissioned between 1957 and 1959. The station originally had a total generating capacity of 300 MW, but by the 1990s this was recorded as 285 MW. Ferrybridge B was one of the CEGB's twenty steam power stations with the highest thermal efficiency; in 1963–4 the thermal efficiency was 32.34 per cent, 31.98 per cent in 1964–5, and 31.96 per cent in 1965–6.{{cite book|title=CEGB Statistical Yearbooks 1964 1965, 1966, 1972, 1982|publisher=CEGB|year=1966|location=London|pages=20}} The annual electricity output of Ferrybridge B was:

After the UK's electric supply industry was privatised in 1990, the station was operated by PowerGen. The station closed in 1992 and has since been completely demolished.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalgrid.com/UK/library/documents/sys_03/dddownloaddisplay.asp?sp=sys_Table3_7|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205023032/http://www.nationalgrid.com/UK/library/documents/sys_03/dddownloaddisplay.asp?sp=sys_Table3_7|url-status=dead

|archive-date=5 December 2012|title=Table 3.7 – Generation Disconnections since 1991|year=2003|publisher=National Grid|access-date=5 January 2009}}

In 2006 LaFarge began construction of a plasterboard factory adjacent to the Ferrybridge C power station on the site of the former Ferrybridge B station to use the Calcium Sulphate (Gypsum) produced by FGD.{{cite book|url=http://www.newsteelconstruction.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/digi/0704NSCApril07/index.html#/28/|pages=25–27|title=All the right credentials|via=www.newsteelconstruction.com|date=April 2007|volume=15|number=4|access-date=5 January 2014}}

The power station was originally built for and operated by the Central Electricity Generating Board.

Work began on Ferrybridge C in 1961.{{cite web|url=https://sse.com/newsandviews/allarticles/2016/03/ferrybridge-c-power-station-through-the-decades/|title=Ferrybridge C Power Station – Through the decades (1966–2016)|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809224040/https://www.sse.com/newsandviews/allarticles/2016/03/ferrybridge-c-power-station-through-the-decades/|archive-date=9 August 2017}} The architects were the Building Design Partnership.{{cite book|last=Clarke|first=Jonathan|title=High merit: existing English post-war coal and oil-fired power stations in context|publisher=Historic England|year=2013|location=London|pages=15}} There were two chimneys and the eight cooling towers were arranged in a lozenge pattern on side of the building. On 1 November 1965, three of the cooling towers collapsed due to vibrations from Kármán turbulence in {{convert|85|mph|abbr=on}} winds. Although the structures had been built to withstand higher wind speeds, the design only considered average wind speeds over one minute and neglected shorter gusts. Furthermore, the grouped shape of the cooling towers meant that westerly winds were funnelled into the towers themselves, creating a vortex. The remaining five were severely damaged. The destroyed towers were rebuilt to a higher specification and the five surviving towers were strengthened to tolerate adverse weather conditions.{{cite book|last=Price|first=David N.|editor=Neil Schlager|title=When Technology Fails: significant technological disasters, accidents, and failures of the twentieth century|publisher=Gale Research|year=1994|isbn=0-8103-8908-8|pages=267–270

}}{{cite book|title=Tolley's Handbook of Disaster and Emergency Management, Third Edition: Principles and Practice|last1=Moore|first1=Tony|last2=Lakha|first2=Raj|edition=3rd ed. (Hardcover)|date=20 November 2006|publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann|isbn=978-0-7506-6990-0|page=71}}

Commission of Ferrybridge C began in 1966: one unit was brought on line, feeding electricity into the National Grid, on 27 February 1966.{{cite web|first=Maurice|last=Haigh|title=KNOTTINGLEY IN 1966|url=http://www.knottingley.org/history/pastyears/years_1966.htm|work=Pontefract & Castleford Express|date=3 March 1966|access-date=5 January 2014|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060108170233/http://www.knottingley.org/history/pastyears/years_1966.htm|archive-date=8 January 2006}}{{cite book|title=Digest of United Kingdom energy statistics 2012|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/65881/5949-dukes-2012-exc-cover.pdf|publisher=Department of Energy and Climate Change|first1=Iain|last1=MacLeay|first2=Kevin|last2=Harris|first3=Anwar|last3=Annut|isbn=9780115155284|year=2012|at=Table 5.11, p.151}} Units 2, 3 and 4 were all commissioned by the end of 1967. Following the cooling tower accident, it was planned that the station would not be opened for some time after the scheduled date. However it was possible to connect one of the remaining towers to the now complete Unit 1. The reconstruction of the destroyed towers began in April 1966 and had been completed by 1968.{{cite web|url=https://arts576.wixsite.com/generationsheritage/history|title=Ferrybridge Power Station 1917 – 2017|access-date=4 August 2020}}

Ferrybridge C Power Station had four 500 MW generating sets{{cite web|url=http://www.knottingley.org/today/industry_today.htm

|title=Industry in Knottingley and Ferrybridge|at=Ferrybridge 'C' Power Station|last=Norfolk|first=Michael|work=Knottingley and Ferrybridge online

|archive-date=1 January 2006|url-status=usurped

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060101075703/http://knottingley.org/today/industry_today.htm}} known as units 1–4. There were four boilers rated at 435 kg/s, steam conditions were 158.58 bar at 566/566 °C reheat.{{cite book|title=Handbook of Electricity Supply Statistics 1989|publisher=The Electricity Council|year=1990|isbn=085188122X|location=London|pages=4}} In addition to the main generating sets the plant originally had four gas turbines with a combined capacity of 68 MW. Two were retired in the late 1990s reducing capacity to 34 MW.{{cite web|title=Ferrybridge C gas turbines|url=http://www.powerstations.uk/ferrybridge-c-turbines/|website=Power stations of the UK|access-date=30 April 2020}} These units are used to start the plant in the absence of an external power supply.

The generating capacity, electricity output and thermal efficiency were as shown in the table.

Coal supply was by rail transport (initially 4m. tons a year in 1,000-ton Merry-go-round trains at the rate of 17 a day){{cite magazine|magazine=Modern Railways|date=October 1966|page=521|title=The NER prepares for big three-station coal feed}} and road transport and barge (initially 1m. tons on the Aire and Calder Navigation). Barge transport ended in the late 1990s. Another source mentions that the last time the barge unloader operated was on 17 December 2002{{cite web|url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-3437-1/dissemination/pdf/aecom1-343928_1.pdf|access-date=4 August 2020}} Rail transport comprised a branch off the adjacent Swinton and Milford Junction line. Facilities include a west-facing junction on the Swinton line, two coal discharge lines (No. 1 track and No. 2 track), gross- and tare-weight weighbridges, a hopper house, together with an oil siding.{{cite book|title=Eastern and Anglia Regions Track Diagrams|last=Jacobs|first=Gerald|publisher=Quail|year=1988|isbn=0900609559|location=Exeter|pages=18A}}{{cite book|title=Railway Track Diagrams Eastern|last=Brailsford|first=Martyn|publisher=Trackmaps|year=2016|isbn=9780954986681|location=Frome|pages=40A}} The automatic unloading equipment for the coal trains was built by Rhymney Engineering, a Powell Duffryn company. It used ultrasonic detection, capable of dealing with up to 99 wagons in a train (though initially trains had 35 hopper wagons), to control the door-opening gear to empty 5 wagons at a time into the bunkers.Modern Railways January 1967 p. 46

The plant's two chimneys were {{convert|198|m|abbr=on}} high. The eight cooling towers were built to a height of {{convert|115|m|abbr=on}},{{cite web|url=http://www.hargreavesservices.co.uk/uploads/biomasscasestudy%5B0%5D.pdf|title=Case study – Hargreaves Industrial services|work=www.hargreavesservices.co.uk|access-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304171222/http://hargreavesservices.co.uk/uploads/biomasscasestudy%5B0%5D.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016}} none of which remain at the site after the final demolition of the cooling towers on 17 March 2022.

Ownership passed to Powergen (1989) after the privatisation of the Central Electricity Generating Board. In 1998, during the 1990s "dash for gas", Powergen closed Unit 4.{{cite journal|title=Closure of UK coal-fired generating plant raises questions|date=May 1998|journal=Coal International|volume=246|issue=3|page=113|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/882463/closure-uk-coal-fired-generating-plant-raises-questions

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810235601/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/882463/closure-uk-coal-fired-generating-plant-raises-questions|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 August 2014}} In 1999 the power station, along with Fiddlers Ferry in Cheshire, was sold to Edison Mission Energy. Both stations were then sold on to AEP Energy Services Ltd (American Electric Power) in 2001, before both were sold again to SSE plc in July 2004 for £136 million.

In 2005, SSE took the decision to fit Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) to the plant, installing equipment to scrub half of Ferrybridge's output; the decision was required to partially meet the specifications of the Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD).{{cite web|url=http://www.icis.com/heren/articles/2005/11/16/9283742/sse-to-fit-fgd-on-ferrybridge-fiddlers-ferry-reports-25-hike-in-h1-profit.html|title=SSE to fit FGD on Ferrybridge|publisher=ICIS Heren|date=16 November 2005|access-date=5 January 2014}} In 2008 the boilers were fitted with Boosted Over Fire Air in order to reduce the NOx emissions.{{cite web|url=http://www.power-technology.com/projects/ferrybridge-ccpilot-100-power-station/|title=Ferrybridge CCPilot 100+ Power Station, United Kingdom|work=www.power-technology.com|quote=Ferrybridge C power station details [..] The boilers were equipped with boosted-over-fire-air technology in 2008 to reduce NOx emissions|access-date=29 October 2013}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST|date=June 2016}} In 2009 FGD was commissioned on Units 3 and 4.{{cite web|url=http://www.sse.com/uploadedFiles/Controls/Lists/News_And_Press_Releases/Press_releases/2009/HalfYearResultsStatement.pdf|title=Scottish and Southern Energy plc – Financial report for the six months to 30 September 2009|access-date=5 January 2014|quote=The removal, in January and February 2009, of the restrictions on running hours at Fiddler's Ferry and Ferrybridge power stations which applied during 2008, following the installation of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) equipment [...] Investment in 2009/10 [..] During that time, SSE [..] completed the installation of flue gas desulphurisation equipment at Fiddler's Ferry and Ferrybridge power stations|pages=5, 7|publisher=SSE|date=11 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101133610/http://www.sse.com/uploadedFiles/Controls/Lists/News_And_Press_Releases/Press_releases/2009/HalfYearResultsStatement.pdf|archive-date=1 November 2013|url-status=dead}} The installation of FGD allowed SSE to sign a five-year agreement with UK Coal for 3.5 million tonnes of higher-sulphur coal.{{cite web|url=http://www.sse.com/PressReleases2009/UKCoalAgreement/|title=Agreement with UK Coal plc|date=27 April 2009|publisher=SSE|access-date=5 January 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131030100114/http://www.sse.com/PressReleases2009/UKCoalAgreement/|archive-date=30 October 2013|url-status=dead}}

In December 2013, SSE announced that Ferrybridge would opt out from (not comply with) the EU Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU); this would require the plant to close by the end of 2023, or on completing 17,500 hours of operation after 1 January 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.sse.com/Templates/NewsAndPressReleases.aspx?id=15864|title=Future operation of thermal generation sites|date=20 December 2013|publisher=SSE|access-date=5 January 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131222040536/http://www.sse.com/Templates/NewsAndPressReleases.aspx?id=15864|archive-date=22 December 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/dec/20/sse-close-coal-fired-power-stations-ferrybridge-uskmouth|title=SSE to close two coal-fired power stations|first=Terry|last=Macalister|work=The Guardian|date=20 December 2013|access-date=5 January 2014}} The units without FGD (1 and 2) were closed on 28 March 2014, having completed the 20,000 operating hours permitted under the LCPD.{{cite web|url=http://www.sse.com/Ferrybridge/FerrybridgePowerStation/#|title=Ferrybridge power station|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224174734/http://www.sse.com/Ferrybridge/FerrybridgePowerStation/|archive-date=24 December 2013|publisher=SSE}}{{cite web|url=http://sse.com/whatwedo/ourprojectsandassets/thermal/Ferrybridge/|title=Ferrybridge C|at=Project Information|quote=Unit One (490 MW) and Unit Two (490 MW) at Ferrybridge power station were opted out of the Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD), and turned off once they used up their allowed 20,000 operating hours at the end of March 2014.|archive-date=4 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704184756/http://sse.com/whatwedo/ourprojectsandassets/thermal/ferrybridge/|url-status=dead|publisher=SSE|access-date=1 August 2014}}

On 31 July 2014 a serious fire broke out in Ferrybridge Unit C. The fire was understood to have started in the fourth generating unit, with the no.3 unit also affected. Neither unit was operational at the time of the fire, due to maintenance.{{cite news |date=31 July 2014 |title=Firefighters tackle blaze at UK Ferrybridge power plant |work=Reuters |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/07/31/uk-britain-sse-fire-idUKKBN0G02BK20140731 |url-status=dead |access-date=31 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114200515/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-sse-fire-idUKKBN0G02BK20140731 |archive-date=14 January 2016}} At its height some 75 firefighters tackled 100 ft (30m) high flames, after the blaze broke out at about 14:00 BST.{{cite web|title=Ferrybridge Power station fire causes tower's partial collapse|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-28588714|website=BBC News|access-date=22 August 2021|date=31 July 2014}} A plant used to remove sulphur dioxide from gases produced from the power station caught fire. The black smoke coming from the coal-fired power station affected nearby roads, including the M62, with drivers and householders advised to keep windows shut. No injuries were recorded as the site was quiet due to the summer shutdown. The fire resulted in a partial collapse of the structure.

As the fire was in the absorber tower, it destroyed Unit 4's FGD capability. Unit 3, which had received minor damage, returned to service on 29 October 2014. Unit 4 resumed service on 15 December 2014, although without its FGD it could only run by burning very low sulphur coal and in tandem with Unit 3. The very low sulphur coal ran out in March 2015 and therefore Unit 4 was shut, leaving only Unit 3 in operation for the final year of generation.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

File:Ferrybridge swansong - geograph.org.uk - 5654726.jpg

After the fire, only Unit 3 remained in full operation causing energy output to decrease and leading to a rise in the cost of running it. In May 2015 SSE confirmed that the plant would close in early 2016, after estimating that it would lose £100 million over the next five years.{{cite web |title=BREAKING: Ferrybridge Power Station To Close In 2016 |url=http://scaffmag.com/2015/05/breaking-ferrybridge-power-station-to-close-in-2016/ |access-date=3 July 2015 |work=The Scaffolding Magazine|date=19 May 2015 }}{{cite web |date=20 May 2015 |title=SSE ANNOUNCES CLOSURE OF FERRYBRIDGE POWER STATION |url=http://sse.com/newsandviews/allarticles/2015/05/sse-announces-closure-of-ferrybridge-power-station/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003231726/https://sse.com/newsandviews/allarticles/2015/05/sse-announces-closure-of-ferrybridge-power-station/ |archive-date=3 October 2019 |access-date=3 July 2015 |publisher=SSE}} Electricity generation ceased around midday on 23 March 2016, with SSE stating that the official closure date would be 31 March.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-35882006|title=Ferrybridge C coal-fired power station closes after 50 years|date=23 March 2016|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=23 March 2016}}

Cooling Tower six stood {{convert|114|m|ft}} high and was the first to be demolished, using explosives on 28 July 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/people/in-pictures-thousands-watch-as-ferrybridge-power-station-demolition-begins-1-9903604|title=In pictures: Thousands watch as Ferrybridge Power Station demolition begins|newspaper=Wakefield Express|access-date=5 August 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-leeds-49143964/cooling-tower-at-ferrybridge-power-station-demolished|title=Tower demolished at Ferrybridge Power Station|work=BBC News |access-date=5 August 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2019-07-28/demolition-begins-at-ferrybridge-power-station-as-first-cooling-tower-brought-down/|title=Demolition begins at Ferrybridge power station as first cooling tower brought down|website=ITV News|date=28 July 2019 |access-date=5 August 2019}} A further four cooling towers were demolished on 13 October 2019, leaving three standing.

The main boiler house, bunker bay and two {{convert|198|m|adj=on}} high chimney stacks were demolished on 22 August 2021. All were demolished at the same time because when a controlled demolition takes place there has to be an exclusion zone for safety. There is a housing development near the power station and during the COVID-19 restrictions, Keltbray and SSE were not allowed to evacuate the houses while social distancing guidelines required households to be 2 metres (6ft) apart. Once the restrictions were lifted they were able to carry out the demolition, and chose to demolish the three structures at the same time so that only one evacuation was necessary.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

The final three cooling towers, at first intended to be kept for a future gas-fired power station, were demolished on 17 March 2022 and the site was offered for sale.{{cite web |title=Former Ferrybridge Power Station |url=https://www.ferrybridgepowerstation.co.uk/ |access-date=7 August 2022 |website= |publisher=JLL|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127031014/https://www.ferrybridgepowerstation.co.uk/|archivedate=27 January 2022|url-status=dead}} The power station demolition was completed in October 2022.{{failed verification|date=October 2022}}

In 2018, SSE had plans to redevelop the site for a gas-fired power station, to be named Ferrybridge D,{{cite news|title=New gas power station planned for Ferrybridge|url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/new-gas-power-station-planned-for-ferrybridge-592380|access-date=21 March 2022|work=Wakefield Express|date=9 January 2018}} and build a 9km gas pipeline to connect it to the gas transmission system.{{cite web |title=Ferrybridge 'D' CCGT, West Yorkshire |url=https://dwdllp.com/projects/ferrybridge-d-ccgt-west-yorkshire/ |access-date=7 August 2022 |website=DWD }} Parts of 'C' station – including three of the original cooling towers, the electricity switch house and the substation – were going to be retained for its use.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} The plans were not taken forward, and in April 2020 the application to reserve capacity on the gas transmission network was cancelled.{{cite web |date=13 May 2020 |title=Termination of the PARCA in respect of Ferrybridge D power station |url=https://www.nationalgrid.com/gas-transmission/document/131321/download |access-date=7 August 2022 |website=National Grid}}

In October 2011, SSE was granted Section 36 planning permission to construct a 68 MW waste-to-energy plant at its Ferrybridge site.{{cite web|url=http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/news/3359-ferrybridge-multifuel-decision-letter.pdf |title=(Decision letter) – Application for consent to construct and operate a multi-fuel generating station at Ferrybridge 'C' power station|date=31 October 2011|publisher=Department of Energy and Climate Change|access-date=5 January 2014}} The 68 MW plant was designed to burn mixed fuel including biomass, general waste and waste wood. The plant became operational during 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-17587949 |title=New multi-fuel facility at Ferrybridge to create jobs|date=2 April 2012|work=BBC News – Leeds and West Yorkshire|access-date=5 January 2014}}

In late 2013 consultations began for a second multifuel plant "Ferrybridge Multifuel 2" (FM2). The plant was initially specified to be similar in scale to the first plant, and to have a capacity of up to 90 MW.{{cite news|url=http://www.goolecourier.co.uk/news/business/consultation-begins-for-second-multifuel-power-station-at-ferrybridge-1-5777739 |title=Consultation begins for second multifuel power station at Ferrybridge|date=29 October 2013|work=Goole Courier|access-date=5 January 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131101065136/http://www.goolecourier.co.uk/news/business/consultation-begins-for-second-multifuel-power-station-at-ferrybridge-1-5777739 |archive-date=1 November 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/yorkshire-and-the-humber/ferrybridge-multifuel-2-fm2-power-station/ |title=Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 (FM2) Power Station|publisher=The Planning Inspectorate|access-date=29 October 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160426042115/http://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/yorkshire-and-the-humber/ferrybridge-multifuel-2-fm2-power-station/ |archive-date=26 April 2016}} It occupied part of the course at Ferrybridge Golf Club, and in 2013 SSE undertook to provide a replacement nine-hole course and clubhouse nearby.{{cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Our projects and assets: Ferrybridge C |url=http://sse.com/whatwedo/ourprojectsandassets/thermal/ferrybridge/ |access-date=7 August 2022 |website=SSE |archive-date=4 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704184756/http://sse.com/whatwedo/ourprojectsandassets/thermal/ferrybridge/ |url-status=dead }} Construction of MF2 began in 2016, was completed late 2019, and it was commissioned in December of that year. A rail unloading terminal was built between the two plants to allow both to be rail served.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Both plants were built by Multifuel Energy Limited, a 50:50 joint venture between SSE and Wheelabrator, a division of American company Waste Management.{{cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Multifuel Energy Ltd |url=http://multifuelenergy.com/ |website= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715050051/http://multifuelenergy.com/ |archive-date=15 July 2014 |via=Internet Archive}} {{As of|2015}}, generated power was purchased by SSE.{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Ferrybridge Multifuel 1 (FM1) Project |url=https://www.power-technology.com/projects/ferrybridge-multifuel-1-fm1-project/ |website=Power Technology |date=31 August 2015 |access-date=7 August 2022}} SSE sold its share of the joint venture to First Sentier Investors in January 2021, as part of a programme of disposal of non-core assets.{{cite web |date=7 January 2021 |title=SSE completes sale of Ferrybridge and Skelton Grange Multifuel assets |url=https://www.sse.com/news-and-views/2021/01/sse-completes-sale-of-ferrybridge-and-skelton-grange-multifuel-assets/ |access-date=7 August 2022 |website=SSE}}

A 150 MW / 300 MWh (2-hour) battery started construction in 2023, scheduled for 2024.{{cite web |title=SSE to build 150-MW battery at former UK coal-fired power plant |url=https://renewablesnow.com/news/sse-to-build-150-mw-battery-at-former-uk-coal-fired-power-plant-822936/ |website=Renewablesnow.com |date=12 May 2023 |accessdate=13 May 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Colthorpe |first1=Andy |title=SSE begins construction on 150MW/300MWh BESS in northern England |url=https://www.energy-storage.news/sse-begins-construction-on-150mw-300mwh-bess-in-northern-england/ |website=Energy-Storage.News |date=23 August 2023}}

On 30 November 2011, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, officially opened a carbon capture pilot plant at Ferrybridge Power Station. The carbon capture plant was constructed in partnership with Doosan Power Systems, Vattenfall and the Technology Strategy Board.{{cite web|url=http://www.stockmarketwire.com/article/4267587/SSE-opens-carbon-capture-plant.html|title=SSE opens carbon capture plant|publisher=Stock Market Wire|date=30 November 2011|access-date=5 January 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn11_103/pn11_103.aspx|title=Chris Huhne Opens UK's First Carbon Capture Plant|type=Press release|date=30 November 2011|publisher=Department of Energy and Climate Change|access-date=5 January 2014}} The plant had a capacity of 100 tonnes of CO₂ per day, equivalent to 0.005 GW of power.{{cite web|url=http://www.doosanpowersystems.com/NewsEvents/News/2011-11-30/UKS-FIRST-CARBON-CAPTURE-PLANT-OPENS-AT-FERRYBRIDGE-POWER-STATION/|title=UK'S FIRST CARBON CAPTURE PLANT OPENS AT FERRYBRIDGE POWER STATION|date=30 November 2011|work=www.doosanpowersystems.com|access-date=5 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102105921/http://www.doosanpowersystems.com/NewsEvents/News/2011-11-30/UKS-FIRST-CARBON-CAPTURE-PLANT-OPENS-AT-FERRYBRIDGE-POWER-STATION/|archive-date=2 November 2013|url-status=dead}} The capture method used amine chemistry{{cite web|url=http://doosanbabcock.ws010.nbvtestserver.co.uk/assets/Documents/Ferrybridge.pdf?1360852311|title=Ferrybridge CCPilot100+ post-combustion carbon capture|publisher=Doosan Power Systems|date=February 2012|access-date=5 January 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.innovateuk.org/_assets/pdf/press-releases/press_release_sse_cc100_17mar10_final.pdf|title=£20 million carbon capture pilot plant to receive government support|publisher=Technology Strategy Board|date=17 March 2010|access-date=5 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424102156/http://www.innovateuk.org/_assets/pdf/press-releases/press_release_sse_cc100_17mar10_final.pdf|archive-date=24 April 2012|url-status=dead}} (see Amine gas treating). The CO₂ was not stored, because the pilot plant was designed only to test the carbon capture element of the carbon capture and storage process. At the time of construction it was the largest carbon capture plant in the UK.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/nov/30/carbon-capture-plant-uk-yorkshire|title=Largest carbon capture plant in UK opens in Yorkshire|work=The Guardian|date=30 November 2011|access-date=5 January 2014}}

{{Portal|England|Energy}}

• Listed buildings in Knottingley and Ferrybridge
• Aire valley power stations

{{reflist}}

• Ferrybridge A
• {{citation|title=The Ferrybridge Station of the Yorkshire Electric Power Company|magazine=The Engineer|volume=144}}, In three parts, via www.gracesguide.co.uk
• {{citation|url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/f/f0/Er19271028.pdf|title=No.1|date=28 October 1927|pages=489–490, illus. p.488|ref=FB1927_1}}
• {{citation|url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/d/dd/Er19271104.pdf|title=No.2|date=4 November 1927|pages=503–506|ref=FB1927_2}}
• {{citation|url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/9/9a/Er19271111.pdf|title=No.3|date=11 November 1927|pages=532–533|ref=FB1927_3}}
• Ferrybridge B
• {{citation|title=Ferrybridge B 1957–1992: The Life of a Power Station|publisher=Powergen|year=1992}}
• {{citation|title=FERRYBRIDGE B POWER STATION|year=1960|publisher=CEGB}}
• Ferrybridge C
• {{citation|title=Report of the Committee of Inquiry Into Collapse of Cooling Towers at Ferrybridge, Monday 1 November, 1965|publisher=CEGB|year=1966}}

{{commons category|Ferrybridge Power Station}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.sse.com/ferrybridge/|title=SSE Ferrybridge|publisher=SSE|access-date=29 October 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131224101422/http://www.sse.com/Ferrybridge/|archive-date=24 December 2013|url-status=dead}} official site.
• {{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06q4yqv|title=Power to the People}} documentary.
• {{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-32802980|title=Ferrybridge C to close in March 2016|work=BBC News |date=19 May 2015 }}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/dec/20/sse-close-coal-fired-power-stations-ferrybridge-uskmouth|title=SSE to close two coal-fired power stations|website=TheGuardian.com |date=20 December 2013 }}

{{S-start}}

{{Succession box|before=Blyth Power Station|title=Largest Power Station in the UK|years=1966–1968|after=Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station}}

{{S-end}}

{{Yorkshire Powerstations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferrybridge Power Station}}

Category:2016 disestablishments in England

Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Wakefield

Category:Power stations in Yorkshire and the Humber

Category:Former power stations in England

Category:Coal-fired power stations in England

Category:Demolished power stations in the United Kingdom

Category:Former coal-fired power stations in the United Kingdom

Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2019

Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2021

Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2022

Category:Ferrybridge